Fitments and closures



Dec. 15, 1959 R. w. BEALL, JR

FITMENTS AND CLOSURES Filed March 3, 1958 JM Euraa fi m/n90 W -HEQLL,ale,

United States Patent FITMENTS AND CLOSURES Richard W. Beall, Jr.,Hermosa Beach, Calif., assignor of one-half to Linden H. Chandler,Lomita, Calif.

' Application March '3, 1958, Serial No. 718,868

22 Claims. (Cl. 215-73) The present invention relates generally tofitrnents and closures, and more particularly to fitments and closuresespecially adapted for installation in the mouth portions of bottles orother tubular liquid discharge members normally sealed by means ofscrew-on type caps. v

- A major object of the present invention is to provide a preferred andcertain alternate forms of resilient fitments that are adapted to'bepartially inserted within the confines of the neck of a bottle or othertubular liquid discharge member, and in conjunction with the cap used asa closure therefor, efiect a fluid and air-tight seal of the neck ormember and materially assist in the dispensation of liquid from thebottle or container when the cap has been removed from the mouth portionthereof.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a preferred and certainalternate forms of fitment which are fabricated as integral units from apolymerized resinous material such as polyethylene, or the like, and dueto the resilient nature of this material, the invention serves to lessenthe shock received by a bottle neck at the time a screw-on type cap isaffixed thereto by means of highspeed capping machinery.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide apreferred and certain alternate forms of a fitment, which when disposedin the neck portion of a bottle, effectively prevents liquid fromdripping over the side of the bottle with which the fitment isassociated when the pouring operation ceases, and returns any surplusliquid so cut off into the confines of the bottle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a preferred andcertain alternate forms of a fitment or closure which is extremelysimple structurally, is adapted to automatically move to either sealingor pouring positions when inserted within a bottle neck or other tubularliquid discharge member, and which may be retailed at a sufficiently lowprice to permit discard thereof together with its associated bottle orcontainer when the contents thereof have been consumed.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a preferred andalternate forms of a fitment or closure that is so constructed as tocooperate with conventional screw-on type caps, as well as screw-on typecaps of a special design, to elfectively seal the mouth portion of abottle or other threaded liquid discharge member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a preferred andcertain alternate forms of a fitment that will not only provide thesealing and pouring advantages of the character described, buteliminates the necessity for a sealing member or liner normally requiredon the in Patented Dec. 15, 1959 ice it cooperates with a screw-on typecap to seal the mouth portion of a bottle neck;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first alternate form of fitment whenin a liquid dispensing position within the threaded neck portion of aliquid discharge member;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a screw-on type cap with a portionthereof cut away, which is particularly well adapted for use with thefirst alternate form of fitment;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the first alternate formof fitment shown in Figure 3 showing the manner in which this fitmentand the cap of Figure 4 cooperatively seal the threaded neck portion ofa liquid discharge member;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a second alternate formof fitment shown in a pouring position when inserted within the threadedmouth portion of a liquid discharge member;

y Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the second alternateform of fitment illustrating the manner of cooperation between it and afirst alternate form of screw-on type cap in sealing the threaded mouthportion of a liquid discharge member;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the second alternate formof fitment shown positioned in the threaded neck portion of a liquiddischarge member and cooperating with a cap of a second alternate formto seal a tubular liquid discharge member with which they areassociated; and

Figure 9' is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a cap andfitment assembly.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings for the general arrangementof the preferred form of the invention, it will be seen to include afitment A which is preferably formed as an integral unit from apolymerized resinous material such as polyethylene, or the like, thatcan be advantageously fabricated by injection molding. Fitment A isadapted to be inserted within the upper interior portion of the neck 10of a bottle or other container (not shown), which neck has threads 12formed on the exterior thereof. Threads 12 are adapted to be removablyengaged by a screw-on type cap B of convenof which when the fitment isin a pouring position are tional structure, such as that shown in Figure2. Cap B comprises a circular plate 14 from the circumferential edges ofwhich a cylindrical side wall 16 extends downwardly, and in which spiralgrooves 18 are formed on the interior surface thereof that removablyengage threads 12 to hold cap B in a sealing position onneck 12. Cap Blikewise is preferably fabricated from a polymerized resinous material,but one that is relatively hard, in contrast to the resilient nature ofthe polymerized material used in the fabrication of fitment A.

. Fitment A (Figure 1) includes a cylindrical shell 20, the externaldiameter of which permits snug, slidable engagement thereof with theinterior surface 22 of neck 10. At an appreciable distance from thelower circumferential edge of shell 20 a circumferential flange 24extends upwardly and outwardly therefrom, and the upper extremity ofthis flange develops into a circular ring-shaped lip 26.. Lip 26 is ofappreciable thickness and defined by an upper ring-shaped surface 28 anda complementary surface 30 that is narrower in width, both best be seenin Figure 2. Surfaces 32 and 28 join one another to define a sharpcircumferentially extending junc-g tion 34 that serves to effectivelycut off liquid flow from the bottle or container with which theinvention is associated when it is returned from a pouring to a verticalposition. I

Flange 24 and the upper exterior surface 20a of shell 20 cooperativelydefine an annulus shaped cavity 316 of generally triangular transversecross section into which liquid adhering to surface 28 of lip 26 drainsupo'r'i cessation of the pouring operation. That liquid which flows intocavity 36 thereafter drains into the confines of shell 26 through anyone of a number of ci-rcumferentially spaced slots 20b formed therein(Figure l) to return to the interior of the bottle (not shown) of whichneck forms a part.

Due to the inherent resiliency and memory of the material from which itis formed, the fitment A tends at all times to assume and remain in theposition shown in Figure 1. However,- upon engagement of a screwtype capB with threads 12 and subsequent rotation thereof in the properdirection relative thereto, the cap moves downwardly to place theinterior surface thereof in slidable engagement with the upper surface28 of lip 26 and the ring-shaped extremity 200 of shell 20.

When cap B is in contact with the two above-mentioned surfaces and isscrewed onto threads 12, a downward force is exerted on fitment Asuflicient to move the fitment as a whole downwardly within the confinesof neck It as shown in Figure 2. This movement in turn causes lip 26 anda portion of flange 24 to be deformed into substantially the samehorizontal plane and pressed into liquid sealing contact with theinterior surface of plate 14 and the upper ring-shaped surface 38 ofneck 10. Downward movement of fitment A per se is effected by thedownwardly moving cap B due to the factthat shell Zi) is suificientlythick to withstand the force applied by the cap without buckling. Itwill be apaprent that the cap B must be screwed on very rapidly when thebottle (not shown) is capped by means of present-day high-speedmachinery. Due to their resiliency, the fitment flange 24 and lip 26assume a major portion of the shock exerted by cap B when rotationthereof on neck 10 abruptly terminates when it has been brought intofluid-sealing position thereon (Figure 2).

Fitment A is deformed when cap B is in sealing position on neck 10, butthe material from which the fitment is formed is sufficiently resilientand possesses sufficient memory that it at all times tends to return tothe liquid dispensing position shown in Figure 1. Hence, when cap B isscrewed from neck 10, the flange 30 and lip 26 tend to expand to theshape shown in Figure 1, and the upper portion a of shell 20 which hasbeen compressed downwardly and inwardly (Figure 2) tends to rise to theposition also shown in Figure 1. Return of fitment A to the non-deformedposition of Figure 1 from that shown in Figure 2 is normally accompaniedby an actual upward movement of the fitment relative to the interiorsurface 22 of neck 10. Upward movement of the fitment in this manner isimportant for the upper surface of lip 26 is in pressure contact withthe inside surface of cap B, and maintains a fluid seal therewith, evenwhen the cap is screwed only finger-tight on neck 10.

The use and operation of the preferred form of the invention havealready been discussed in conjunction with a description of thestructure thereof and need not be repeated herein.

A first alternate form C of the fitment isshown in perspective in Figure3, and it is also adapted to be removably inserted in the upperinteriorconfinesof a neck 40 of a bottle or other tubular liquiddischarge member. Neck 40 has threads 42 formed on the exterior surfacethereof. The upper extremity of neck 40 terminates in a ring-shapedsurface 44 as shown. This first alternate form C of the fitment, whichis preferably fortned of the same material as that of the preferredform; includes a cylindrical shell 46 that snugly and slidablyengagesthe interior surface of neck 40. The" upper extremity of shell 46develops into a circumferentially extending flange 48 which tapersupwardly and outwardly to provide a flat, ring-shaped circular lip 50.The upper extremity of shell 46 also develops into an inwardlyprojecting sealing ring 52 having a flat upper surface 54, the purposeof which will hereinafter become apparent.

A first alternate cap D is provided that is particularly well suited foruse with this first alternate form of fitment C, and is illustrated indetail in Figure 4. Cap D comprises a circular plate 56 from which acylindrical side wall 58 depends. Spiral grooves 60 are formed on theinterior surface of side wall 58 which are adapted to slidably engagethreads 4-2 formed on neck 4%. Cap D has a ring-shaped sealing member 62projecting downwardly from the interior surface of plate 56. Sealingmember 62 is defined by an interior vertical cylindrical surface 64, alower flat ring-shaped surface 66, a cylindrical side wall 68 whichextends upwardly from the outer circumferential edge of surface 66 inparallel relationship to the first side wall 64, with the upperextremity of side wall 68 developing into an upwardly and outwardlytaperingcircumferential surface 70. When cap D is screwed onto neck 4%as shown in Figure 5, the surface 66 of sealing member 62 is broughtinto tight fluidsealing contact with surface 54 of ring 52.Concurrently, the interior surface of plate 56 approaches the uppersurface 44 of neck 40, and as a result, the lip 50 and a portion offlange 48 are deformed into substantially the same plane.

A portion 48a of flange 48 is not disposed in the same plane as lip 42,but assumes a downwardly and inwardlyextending angular position as bestseen in Figure 5, where it is brought into fluid-sealing engagement withthe sealing member 62. In the first alternate form C of the invention,the fitment not only effects a fluid-tight seal by engagement of sealingmembers 62 and 52, but also when lip 59 and a portion of flange 48 arecompressed into fluid-sealing engagement with the neck surface 44 andthe interior surface of the cap plate 56, as shown in Figure 5. When thecap D is unscrewed from neck 40, due to the resiliency and memory of thematerialforming same, the fitment C immediately returns to the positionshown in Figure 3.

With the fitment C disposed in the position shown in Figure 3, it may beadvantageously used in dispensing liquids from the bottle or containerof which neck 40 forms a part, for upon cessation of the pouringoperation the flow of liquid is cleanly broken and any surplus liquidadhering thereto drains back into the interior of the container in thesame manner as described hereinabove relative to the preferred form ofthe invention. It will be particularly noted that in the first alternateform of fitment C, the ring-shaped sealing member 52 is not appreciablydeformed when cap D is in a sealing position on neck 40.

A second alternate form of fitment E is shown in a liquid dispensingposition in Figure 6 and in a sealing position in Figure 7; Fitment E,which is preferably fabricated from the same type of material as thepreferred form, includes a cylindrical shell 72 that snugly but did ablyengages the interior surface 74 of a neck 76 affixed to a bottle orcontainer (not shown). Threads 78 are formed on the exterior surface ofneck 76. The upper extremity of shell 72 develops into an inwardlyextending ring 80 of triangular transverse cross section that is definedby an upper, downwardly and inwardly tapering surface 82, and a loweroppositely tapering surface 84. A circumferentially extending flange 86proiects upwardly and outwardly from shell 72 above the sealing ring 82,and the outer extremity of flange 82 further develops into a ring-shapedlip 88 having a flat upper surface 90, a lower flat surface 92, and adownwardly and inwardly extending edge surface 94 therebetween.

As thus described, when fitment E occupies the position shown in Figure6, it may be used advantageously in dispensing liquid from the neck 76,for upon cessation of the pouring operation, the stream of liquid isbroken in the same manner previously described. This second alternateform of fitment E is particularly adapted for use with the firstalternate form of cap F shown in Figure 7, which cap includes a circularplate 98 from which a cylindrical side wall 100 extends downwardly andhas spiral grooves 102 formed on the interior surface thereof thatslidably engage the threads 78 and maintain the cap in position on thebottle. A sealing member 104 projects downwardly from the interiorsurface of plate 98 and is defined by a downwardly and inwardly taperingcircular sealing surface 106 (Figure 7). From the standpoint oflightness, as well as a saving of material, a recess 108 may be formedin the interior of member 104. When the cap F is screwed downwardly onneck 76, the flange 86 and lip 88 are deformed as shown, with lip 88 anda portion of flange 86 being compressed into substantially the sameplane to be so compressed as to provide a fluid-tight seal between theinterior surface of cap F and a ring-shaped surface 108 defining theupper extremity of neck 76. As cap F rotates downwardly on neck 76, thetapered surface 106 of sealing member 104 contacts surface 82 of sealingmember 80, and deforms member 80 from the position shown in phantom linein Figure 7 to that shown in solid line in the same figure. The deformedposition of ring 80 is identified in the drawing by the numeral 80'. Dueto.the resiliency of the material forming same, member 8 0 at all timestends to return to the position shown in Figure 6 whereby when the capis disposed in the closed position shown in Figure 7, the surface 82 ofthe sealing ring is in pressure, fluid-sealing contact with surface 106and augments the fluid seal afforded by the compressed lip 88 andportion of flange 86. When cap F is unscrewed, flange 86 and lip 88, dueto the resilient, memory characteristics of the polymerized materialforming same, immediately return to the position shown in Figure 6 wherethe fitment B may be used in the same manner as the fitment C shown inFigure 3.

The third alternate form of fitment C is shown in Figure 8, and isadapted to be disposed in a tubular discharge member 110 having threads112 formed on the exterior side wall surface thereof. A second alternatescrew-on type cap Gis provided that includes a circular member 114 fromwhich a cylindrical side wall 116 depends on the interior surface ofwhich grooves 118 are formed that engage threads 112. The interior ofmember 114 is defined by a first downwardly and inwardly taperingring-shaped surface 120. The inner circumferential extremity of surface120 develops into a second downwardly and inwardly tapering circularsurface 122, terminating in a flat, circular surface 124 that isparallel to the upper surface of member 114.

The upper extremity of tubular discharge member 110 is preferablydefined by a flat, ring-shaped surface 121, as can best be seen inFigure 8. This third alternate form of fitment G is preferably formedfrom the same type of material used in the fabrication of the preferredform of the device. In detail, fitment G comprises a cylindrical shell128 that snugly and slidably engages the interior surface of dischargemember 110, and the upper edge of this shell develops into an outwardlyprojecting ring-shaped flange 130. The upper surface of flange 130 has adownwardly and inwardly tapering ringshaped surface 132 of substantiallythe same angularity as taper 120 in cap member 114.

. ..Flange 132 also has a lower ring-shaped surface 134 narrower inwidth than upper surface 130. The outer peripheries of surfaces 132 and134 are connected by a downwardly and inwardly tapering circular edgesurface 138, which at the junction thereof with the upper flange surface132, forms a circular apex 140 that breaks the flow of fluid uponplacement of the container and a circumferentially extending sealingmember 142, which when not deformed, occupies the position shown inphantom line in Figure 8. However, as the cap A is screwed downwardly ondischarge member 110, the cap surface 122 contacts lip 142 to deform itdownwardly to the position 142' as shown in Figure 8. The upper surface144 of sealing member 142 tapers downwardly and inwardly at such anangle that this surface is parallel to the cap surface 122 when the capis screwed into the closing position shown. Cap surface 122 and uppersurface 144 of ring 102 cooperatively augment the fluid seal effected byflange 130 when compressed between faces and 122. Of course, when cap His removed from the bottle, the sealing member returns from the positionshown in solid line to that shown in phantom line in Figure 8. The useand operation of the third alternate form of the invention have beendescribed in conjunction with the description of the structure thereofand need not be repeated. I

Upon occasion it may be found desirable to mount both fitment A and capD concurrently as a unit on a bottle. Such a unit pre-assembled for thispurpose is shown in Figure 9. The shell 20 and side wall 68 are of suchsize and configuration as to permit frictional engagement, with thefitment A thus removably aflixed to cap D. The use and operation of theinvention is the same, irrespective of whether the fitment A and cap Dare mounted on the neck of a bottle separately or concurrently as abovedescribed.

Although the preferred and alternate forms of the invention herein shownanddescribed are fully capable of achieving the objects and providingthe advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that theyare merely illustrative embodiments of the invention and that I do notmean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown anddescribed other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fitment capable of being mounted in an exteriorly threaded tubularliquid discharge member which is engageable by a screw-on type cap,including: a cylindrical shell at least a portion of which is adapted tobe slidably inserted within the confines of said member to sealinglyengage same; a circular flange that projects upwardly and outwardly fromsaid shell when said flange is not subjected to downward pressure, whichflange develops into a circular lip of substantial width that terminatesin a sharp circumferentially extending edge which serves to break theflow of liquid from said fitment when said liquid discharge member ismoved from a dispensing position to a substantially upright position;and an extension of said shell disposed within the confines of saidflange, the outer edge of which extension terminates in a ring-shapedflat surface positioned in substantially the same plane as the liquidcontactable face of said lip, said fitment being formed of asufficiently resilient material as to effect a liquid-tight seal whencompressed between the outer extremity of said discharge member and theinterior surface of said cap at the time said cap is screwed thereon.

2. A fitment as defined in claim 1 wherein saidflange and extensioncooperatively provide an annulus-shaped space of generally V-shapedtransverse cross section therebetween. Y

3. A fitment as defined in claim 2 wherein said extension is providedwith at least one'liquid passage means that at all .times maintainsliquid communication between said annulus-shaped space and the interiorof said shell.-

4. A fitment as defined in claim 3 wherein said liquid passage means isa slot formed in said shell.

5. A fitment as defined in claim 4 wherein said extension has suflicientwall thickness and longitudinal rigidity that said fitment is capable ofbeing moved downwardly as an integralunit in said discharge member whensaid flat face of said extension engages an interior surface of said capas it is screwed onto said discharge member.

6. A fitment-as defined in claim wherein said flange is formed of asufficiently rmilient material that said fitment as a whole is movedoutwardly in said discharge member when said cap is screwed therefrom.

7. A fitment capable of being. mounted in an exteriorly threaded tubularliquid discharge member which is engageable by a screw-on type cap,including: a cylindrical shell at least a portion of which is adapted tobe slidably inserted within the confines of said member to sealinglyengage same; a first member of circular transverse cross sectionprojecting outwardly from said shell that terminates in a sharpcircumferentially extending edge that serves to break the flow of liquidfrom said fitment when said liquid discharge member is moved from aliquid dispensing position to a substantially upright position, saidfitment being formed of a sulficiently resilient material as to effect aliquid-tight seal when compressed between the outer extremity of saiddischarge member and the interior surface of said cap at the time saidcap is screwed thereon; and a resilient sealing ring supported by saidshell and projecting into the confines thereof with the outermostportion of said sealing ring defining a flat annulus-shaped face.

8. A fitment as defined in claim 7 wherein said sealing ring isrectangular in transverse cross section.

9. A fitment as defined in claim 7 wherein said sealing ring istriangular in transverse cross section.

10. A closure for an extericrly threaded tubular liquid dischargemember, including: a cylindrical shell at least a portion of which isadapted to be slidably inserted within the confines of said member tosealingly engage same; a first member of circular transverse crosssection projecting outwardlyfrom said shell that terminates in a sharpcircumferentially extending edge which serves to break the flow ofliquid therefrom when said liquid discharge member is moved from aliquid dispensing position to a substantially upright position, saidfirstmember being formed of a suificiently resilient material as toeffect a first liquid-tight seal when compressed between the outerextremity of said discharge member and the interior surface of said capat the time said cap is screwed thereon; a resilient sealing ringsupported by said shell and projecting into the confines thereof; ascrew-on type cap formed with threads capable of rotatably engaging saidthreads formed on said discharge member; and a circular rigid sealingmember supported by said cap and disposed within the confines thereof,said sealing member being of such dimensions that it is brought intoliquid sealing contact with said ring as said first member effects saidfirst liquid-tight seal.

11. A closure as defined in claim 10 wherein said sealing ring defines afirst outwardly disposed annulus-shaped face, and said ring defines asecond annulus-shaped face that is complementary to said first face andis adapted to effect a liquid-tight seal when in pressure contact withsaid first face.

12. A closure as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second facesare substantially parallel to said lip.

13. A closure as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second facesare angularly disposed relative to said lip.

14. A closure as defined in claim 11 wherein said sealing member is ofring-shaped configuration.

15. A closure as defined in claim 11 wherein said sealing member is offrusto-co'nical configuration.

16. A closure as defined in claim 13 wherein said first and second facesare not initially parallel but are placed in parallel relationship whensaid sealing ring is in pressure contact with said sealing member assaid cap is screwed into a sealingposition on said discharge member.

17. A closure as defined in claim 13 wherein said sealing ring istriangular in transverse cross section.

18. A. fitment capable of being mounted in an exteriorly threadedtubular liquid discharge member which is engageable by a screw-on typecap, including: a cylindrical shell at least a portion. of which isadapted to be slidably inserted within the confines of said member tosealingly engage same; a frusto-conical flange extending upwardly andoutwardly from said shell that terminates in a sharp circumferentiallyextending edge which serves to break the flow of liquid from saidfitment when said liquid discharge member is moved from a liquiddispensing position to a substantially upright position, said flangebeing formed of a sufficiently resilient material, as to eifect aliquid-tight seal when compressed; and a tubular extension of said shellthat projects upwardly into the confines of said flange, said extensionhaving sufficient wall thickness as to be substantially rigid, which capwhen screwed on said member contacts said extension to move said shelland flange downwardly in said member until said downward movement ishalted by the interior surface of said cap when it contacts acircumferentially extending portion of said flange to force same intofluid-sealing contact with a surface portion of said member.

19. A fitment as defined in claim 18 wherein said flange is formed of asufficiently resilient material that said fitment as a whole tends tomove toward said cap in said member as said cap is unscrewed therefrom,with said flange maintaining a fluid-tight seal with the interiorsurface of said cap as a result thereof even when said cap is looselyscrewed on said member.

29. A fitment capable of being mounted in an exteriorly threaded tubularliquid discharge member which is engageable by a screw-on type cap,including: a cylindrical shell at least a portion of which is adapted tobe slidably inserted within the confines of said member to sealinglyengage same; a frusto-conical flange extending upwardly and outwardlyfrom said shell that terminates in a circular lip that defines a sharpcircumferentially extending edge that serves to break the flow of liquidfrom said fitment when said liquid discharge member is moved from aliquid dispensing position to a substantially upright position, whichflange and lip are formed of a sufficiently resilient material as toeffect a liquid-tight seal when compressed; and a tubular extension ofsaid shell that projects upwardly into the confines of said flange, saidextension having sutficient wall thickness as to be substantially rigid,which cap when screwed on said member contacts said extension to movesaid shell and flange downwardly in said member until said downwardmovement is halted by the interior surface of said cap when it contactssaid lip and a circumferentially extending portion of said flange toforce same into fluid-sealing contact with a surface portion of saidmember.

21. A fitment as defined in claim 20 wherein said flange and extensioncooperatively provide an annulus-shaped space of generally V-shapedtransverse cross section therebetween.

22. A fitment as defined in claim 21 wherein said extension is providedwith at least one liquid passage means that at all times maintainsliquid communication between said annulus-shaped space and the interiorof said shell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,272,549 Deschner Feb. 10, 1942 2,443,086 Turenne June 8, 19482,736,447 De Brock Feb. 28, 1956 2,834,497 Wolf May 13, 1958

